The Smallest Bank in the World

owned financial institution which was established in Gibraltar in 1855 and held its own for 132 years against the odds.

Written by Paco Galliano OBE

— who joined the family Bank in 1944 when he was just 17 years old, then a year later had to take over the running of it when his father died — the book is a verv personal history of five genera tions ofone family which incor porates much of the history of Gibraltar from 1855 to 1987.

Walk into our Gibraltar branch and you will find we are on first name terms with many of our customers. Not only do we have excellent local knowledge, we can provide a wide range of services.

So. if you are looking for a mutually beneficial relationship, with a personal touch, we can help.

A new book crammed with al most 150 years of Gibraltar's so cial and commercial history in pic tures and words is now available at local book sellers and is worth putting on anyone's Christmas list.

The book follows the fortunes of 'The Smallest Bank in the World' — Galliano's, the family

The book contains some fas cinating archive photographs and memorabilia including photographs of curfew per mits and posters that will bring back memories for older Gibraltarians and intrigue the young.

This book is a must for anyone with an interest in the social and commercial history of Gibraltar. An invaluable resource and a good read.

A limited edition of just 800 books is available at £15.95 from local book shops.

Gibraltarians will no longer be disenfranchised in the next European Elections due to the efforts and amazing success of a small group of determined people who were not satisfied with the negative answers they had been given at that time.

It has taken six years to obtain a favourable judgement and 'Denise Matthews versus the UK Govern ment' goes down in European Community history as a 'judge ment for the plaintiff.

"We are amazed at how sud denly it has been decided in our favour," says the ever- bubbly,posi tive Denise;"but it took a long time. In the beginning we didn't believe that we could have been so success ful."

"My father Dennis, then Chair man of the 'Self Determination Group for Gibraltar'in discussions with Euro-lawyer Michael Llamas decided that Gibraltar might be able to take a legal ca.se to the Eu ropean parliament that a person was being denied their Eurovote. There were several persons consid ered but 1 was chosen because 1 was coming up to 18 years and could not have voted previously. It was put to me that it could be a long case with court appearances; 1 was more than happy to do it-'No problem'. We went to court and didn't know if it was a reality.

"It has taken 6/7 years and we are delighted. I was being stopped in Main Street and being told 'you've won!' 1 didn't at first un derstand.

"The People of Gibraltar have won and have a greater confidence. This is just one of the things which we can do'legally'.(Inlv vesterdav

1 u as stopped by friends of m\'fam ily and embraced as 'the girl who won the Eurovote for us'."

A triumph for Gibraltar, a tri umph for the SDGG, which had come into being in the early '90s. MrDennis Matthews,Denise'sdad, was instrumental in 'giving birth' to the movement as he explains:

"1 had been very active in local politics, as President of the Gibral tar Teachers' Association, Chair man of the Staff Association Co- tjome/, who was good at 'stirring things up'and he said "let's do it!"; so we called a meeting at the Caleta Hotel. About thirty turned up, in cluding the lavvver James Levy, nephew of Sir Joshua Hassan.

"We talked to Cecilia Baldachino of the local branch of the European Movement and she agreed with our plans, showing us her enormous file of petitions and lOOs of letters; which we of the SDGG fell were getting Gibraltar nowhere. We were being hammered everywhere by eign & Commonwealth Office and got a 'stupid' replv. ordinating Committee of the Civil Ser\'ice — a Union job, and Presi dent of the Gibraltar Trades Coun cil. I had fought on the 'parity' is sue, alongside joe Bossano, which was regarded as 'the most impor tant success' by the House of As sembly.

"Gibraltarians could not be en franchised because: 'You are not members of the Customs Union,or the Common Agricultural Policy, and the UK drew up their bounda ries onlv to include the UK.

"I wrote back to ask — How stu pid of you;'Why were we left out? Why can't we come in?' I'm still waiting for a reply.

"Michael Llamas suggested we go down the legal route of petition ing the European Court of Human Rights — that it was the UK which was denying us our rights.

"I had a 'bee in my bonnet' that no-one was doing anything about the status of Gibraltarians — we had lost the 'Gibraltar lobby' at Westminster and the United Na tions had declared the 90s as the fi nal decade of 'Colonialism'. I felt Gib. needed a 'wake-up' call.

"1 consulted my friend John

Spain — at the UN — and we'd been excluded from 'air liberalisa tion' by the EC and the 'external frontiers convention'. Our rights were being eroded.

"Michael Llamas, a Gibraltarian lawyer practising in Paris, came to give a talk about structums of the EC and we met to discuss mv ideas.

"We could: Hold a mock Euro pean Election and present our nominated candidate in Brussels, or:Take the'legal' route of attempt ing to get Gibraltarians enfran chised for the 'Euro-vote'. We de cided the latter.

"1 wrote a letter to the UK's For

'Either find a UK ex-pat who is being deprived of right to his vote, or a Gibraltarian who has never had the opportunity to exercise their vote. 1 suggested Denise, 17 at the time. She was a bit scared — will 1 have to go into court? It didn't come to that. Is it important?'Extremely', I said.'I'll do it', she replied.

"It wasn't made easy. First we had to get our submission accepted — hundreds aren't. Once that was achieved it has been seven years long wait, before we received the news of our success for Denise,for the SDGG and for Gibraltarians.Of course, I'm delighted. It has been one of the major battles Gibraltar has won in recent times. Bt»th the GSLP and the GSD governments have always been most supportive.

Detns

"I feel lhat we shall have our vote in the next elections. If not now, eventually.The MEPcandidates for the South West who are visiting us certainly think so.

"!don't think that Spain can stop us any more. Ideally, we'd like to have an MEP for Gibraltar — but we're too small under the present rules for a constituencv of our own.

"Perhaps a Cibraltarian could come forward for one of the seven South West seats. At present,as far as 1 know, we don't have a 'Eurovote' campaign going; but we will have... but it won't be me. On re- great people, several from Gibral tar.Since it's part-time, I am able to pursue a very busy life. I've man aged to do some marketing and advertising with TV. I have always loved to perform and am part of song and dance group MMI who do gigs around the Costa — a couple of us are song-writing at present.

"Young people have a greater sense of freedom awav from the Rock;there are not so many people watching your every move. 1 have many international friends and there are frequent visits from Gibraltarian friends. If I get lonely.

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Fax: 72375 sales@bsgcomp.com tirement I was succeeded as SDGG Chairman by my good friend Willie Serfaty, we still get together some times."

I caught up with Denise as she was returning to San Pedro after a weekend on the Rock with her friends and family. For several years she had been actively in volved with her own Marketing company and a regular hi- profile person on the business scene.

"I'm now working at a Health Centre in Marbella with Dr Triay and Dr. Peralta, in Administration, which I had experience at on the Rock. It's a wonderful place with the Rock is only an hour away. move

"I owe my strong, independent nature to my father and mother. When I was growing up, six of us in a small flat at Varyl Bogg, both my parents were alwavs working to improve our lifestyle. My father, a history/ English teacher wasalways active in Teachers' Union affairs and politics, founding member and President of the SDGG, before go ing into business. He always taught me to stand up for my beliefs.

"I'm a proud Gibraltarian and will be there to exercise my Eurovote as will everyone else we'll see what happens."